Charles Williams Books

This is a slim volume of four essays that turn their attention to three issues of the Civil War: the significance of Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee in their conduct of war for the Northern and Southern sides, and the relationship of President Lincoln with the Radical Republicans during the War. These essays probably assume readers already well versed in the history of the times, although they are not too obscure for the general reader.

Author Bruce Catton establishes immediately that the Civil War was not the classic "war of professionals, with set rules, established values, and recognized limits." The Civil War was all-out warfare fought by soldier-citizens for whom the only acceptable outcome was total victory. It was Grant, after a series of failed generals, who finally dealt with the exigencies and peculiarities of the war and devised a strategy leading to victory. Grant was aggressive in his pursuit of the war and understood the need to destroy the other's army and not simply gain strategic points through maneuver, all done with untrained, yet willing, troops. It is clear that the North had an immense advantage in resources, but it was left to Grant to devise a multi-pronged, total war effort and use this advantage in resources by continually pressing the enemy.

Lee was dealt a difficult hand to play in the Civil War. He was outmanned two or three to one; his advantage of internal rail lines did not prove to be that beneficial; Southern localism detracted from a united front; and the defense of the Southern agricultural system dependent on slavery required that troops be dispersed much too widely. The author, Charles Roland, points out that Lee was not given command of all of the Southern army until the war was essentially over, though his advice to Jefferson Davis was valued. As commander of the Northern Virginia army, Lee had an uncanny ability to predict Northern strategy and troop movements. His strategy to penetrate into Northern territory to strike fear into the civilian population, aid Northern peace advocates, and perhaps end the war was a bold initiative. But the Southern army was routed at Gettysburg in July of 1863, partially due to poor strategy and execution; it was not Lee's finest moment. The author suggests that Lee did not, at times, control his subordinate officers sufficiently well to prevent uncoordinated or ineffective battlefield actions. After Gettysburg the Southern war effort was doomed, but Lee prolonged the Confederacy for a year (1864-65) by resisting the final push of Grant towards Richmond with a series of excellent counter moves and stands. The author calls that effort "one of the most prodigious military efforts of the modern age."

The essays by David Donald and T. Harry Williams are brief, but in depth, looks at the Radical Republicans and their influence on President Lincoln. While the essays are interesting and informative, they are actually a continuation of an insider dispute among academic historians as to the significance of the Radicals during the War. Donald claims that all Republicans generally shared the same beliefs and that it is virtually impossible to identify a group of Republicans or a set of policies that can be definitively labeled "Radical." He holds that differences among members of a party are normal. However, he does not disagree that there was widespread disagreement, even disapproval, with Lincoln by many Republicans. Williams, on the other hand, finds that a group of Republicans were doctrinaire about their beliefs concerning the eradication of slavery, opposed to the more pragmatic approach of Conservative Republicans. These Radicals even made attempts to usurp executive authority and privilege in the conduct of the war and in the choice of Cabinet members. Lincoln was largely able to deflect such pressures. The post-Civil War period is not covered in these essays, but it would seem that what influence the Radicals may have had was fleeting given the return to dominance of the white elite in the South.

All of these essays are mere glimpses into the Civil War era. Perhaps they would be clarifying for some or stimulate more investigation by others.

This is fairly heady stuff...here are actual recordings of some of the most famous, influential stage actors from the 19th and 20th centuries taking another bow. The only disappointment is that although the disc comes with a table of contents, it does not state which actor is reading any particular passage. So unless you are old enough to have actually heard Edwin Booth in person, you will have no idea which voice belongs to him.

Sometimes, I enjoyed writing reviews of books that no one will read. In this case, very few will read this good book about the peasant revolt in 1381 that rocked the reign of the boy-king, Richard II. The revolt that was brought upon by poor economic conditions, the Black Plague, lost war in France and poor general government-ship with ill-thought out laws, led to this major revolt that rocked the monarchy and brought England to a edge of a social revolution. However, this revolt also gave young 14 years old Richard his finest hour as a King of England and his role and how he helped save his own life and throne proves to be interesting as well as entertaining reading material. (Its regretful that Richard would have his heydays so young as his life and throne were both forfeited many years later.)

The book also goes into other minor revolts that this main revolt have spawn. There are also appendixes provided by the author that shows the dramatic decreased in English population from 1377 to 1381 thanks to the plague.

Anyone interested in English history of this time period should pick up this book and read it.

This volume consists of 16 essays on the general topic of property and possessions, seen from the perspective of Christian ethics and related disciplines (economics, biblical studies, cultural studies). While each is worth reading in its own right, the book is somewhat flawed by a paucity of intersection among the essays, even among those grouped together by topic area. The co-editors attempt to set some common points of departure regarding methodology and focus in their introduction, but few of the subsequent authors adhere to this common framework. But this is a worthwhile volume offering rich insight into a neglected topic, and one that is very relevant to today's increasingly globalized economic order. The book grew out of a multi-year, grant-supported international academic project, and the co-editors assembled an impressive line-up of commentators. None of them disappoints, but one would hope for a bit more unity and coherence of common voices and concerns in such an intriguing volume.

This volume collects two books that are oddities among Charles Williams' writing. They don't fit easily into the categories of fiction, plays, poetry, history or biography. Although they were well-known and oft-quoted in CW's day, they slipped out of print in ours. Although brief, they are not his lightest or easiest to read books, mainly because he often alludes to a topic or idea to make a point without explaining it, which limits his audience. On the other hand, he goes to great lengths delving into other topics, sending readers first to the dictionary and then to the library.

Forgiveness of Sins is a study of the idea of forgiveness in the Bible and in Shakespeare (a uniquely Williamsesque approach). He Came Down from Heaven takes its title from a line in the Church of England/ Catholic Creed about the Incarnation. In publishing together these brief volumes the publisher has done a great service for those readers who having read the odd CW book are eager for more, and helped bring him in range of the wider reading public.

If this book were simply a collection of recipes for beers which won the 1996 World Beer Cup, it would be an interesting and valuable resource. But it's also an entertaining set of stories about these world-class beers, too. And everything is written in the inimitable Papazian style.

From time to time, the author waxes poetic (as he has been known to do in his other writings). In his discussion of Founder's Stout, he writes how thankful the brewers did not adhere to the Bavarian Reinheitsgebot in producing this beer, so that roasted unmalted barley could be included.

Both all-grain and extract/specialty grain recipes are offered for each beer, in a one-size-fits-all 5 US gallon length. Most homebrewers in the US will find this most useful.

A couple of gripes which make this a four-star, rather than a five-star, review: First, the conversion between different units (e.g., SG to/from Plato, ASBC color to EBC color, and Fahrenheit to Celcius) is idoiosyncratic. The author does point out in his preface that EBC color values were derived, for the purpose of the book, by simply doubling the ASBC color. Secondly, the information on the cover gives the impression that the recipes are provided by the breweries, rather than being formulated by the author. In a sense, this is for the better, however, because the recips should be formulated by an experienced home brewer, rather than a professional. Still, I do not think it was entirely according to Hoyle to give such an impression. And the hokey "MBU," making its debut in this book, has to go. Homebrewers who work in metric usually use the number of grams of alpha acid in the hops.

All in all, an entertaining and valuable reference.

Infighting Admirals - Fisher's Feud with Beresford and the Reactionaries

Geoffrey Penn

Pen & Sword, 2000


Naval technology advanced steadily during the Victorian Age, bringing in its train, steam power, powerful breechloading guns, armored ships, torpedos, submarine boats and wireless telegraphy. A glance at the ships the leading navies of the world (the Royal Navy, the French Navy, the Russian Navy and belatedly the US, German and Japanese navies) were building, tell us that strategic and tactical thinking did not keep pace with the technology. Ship yards built fantastic multi-stacked, ram-prowed battleships and cruisers armed with a miscellany of guns of all descriptions and sizes mounted in turrets, casmates and on open decks which were accordingly doled out in penny packets to fleets and squadron all over the world. The operating idea was naval wars would be fought as they had been fought in the past. Britain would maintain a close blockade of its enemy's ports while her trade protection cruisers found and destroyed enemy raiders sent out to prey on British merchants. Neutral nations would be coerced into silence and co-operation. Things went along swimmingly for several decades, the enemy nations slumbered while the Royal Navy, sole possessors of the high seas throughout a long three quarters of a century, made a virtual fetish of paint and brightwork. It wasn't until 1890, when an American naval officer, Alfred Thayer Mahan, published a work that revolutionized thinking about the strategic purposes of a navy and analyzed naval tactics from previous wars, that the powers began to wake from their slumbers. One early reader of Mahan was Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany, possessor of the finest army in the world and a navy unworthy of Denmark. Expansionists from Teddy Roosevelt to the Japanese Mikado suddenly realized that the road to empire lay over the seas and that a large, modern, blue water navy was needed to advance along it. This book looks at the struggle within the Royal Navy to emerge from its hibernation and begin to adapt itself to a world where challenges to the leading position were coming fast and from every quarter.

Not all men are created equal and the Royal Navy was possessed of some great minds and unfortunately its share of blockheads as well. Admiral Jackie Fisher had a great mind, saw and embraced the future with passion, clarity and vision, was an able administrator and displayed unflinching courage in the face of many obstacles. Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, second son of the 4th Marquess of Waterford, did not possess a great mind, was senseless to vision, was a haphazard administrator and a scheming coward...but he was a charming rogue and had friends in very high places.

Geoffrey Penn's book sets the relationship of these two men as they maneuver among the political eddies and currents of the Royal Navy, as a backdrop to the struggle of that navy to emerge from the habits and mindset of the age of fighting sail and blossom into the modern force that finally met and overmatched the High Seas Fleet of Imperial Germany at Jutland.

Penn goes deep in the politics of the Edwardian navy but just as deep into the administration and rapidly changing technology of that navy. The Royal Navy was very lucky to have a Jackie Fisher in its ranks ably supported by a cast of technically astute officers of middle rank that he promoted and supported in his "fishpond". Fisher wasn't perfect by any measure and made his share of mistakes. In the end however, in spite of the efforts of ignorant reactionaries like Charley Beresford, he created the fleet that John Jellicoe later led to victory over the Germans in the quest for naval supremacy.

I recommend this book to those with more than a passing interest in the age of steam navies and the Royal Navy in particular.

Written concisely, this is the interesting story of John C. Fremont, an amazing explorer, controversial soldier, and a failure as a Civil War general and a businessman. Black and white illustrations, photographs, and maps add to the book's visual appeal. My fourth grade son really enjoyed reading about Fremont's adventures.

In late 1698, four ships sailed from France under the command of Pierre le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville.Aboard were some two hundred people destined to become the first settlers of a French post in the lower Mississippi River. Iberville landed first at Dauphin Island near modern Mobile, then moved further East to Ship Island. Sailing up to the great River Iberville visited with the bayou goula Indians on the west bank. Rene Robert cavalier Sieur de la Salle who were a wealthy important immigrant to Canada who heard of the voyage of Marqette and Joliet and comprehended the strategic significance of a fort at the mouth of Mississippi. During the winter of 1682, La Salle led an expedition of fifty-six persons, including ten indians women and three children down the Mississippi to its mouth.He reached salt water on April 6, placed a cross in the mud and claimed the Country for France. He gave the name of Louisiana, in honor of king Louis XIV. That's was the basis for France's claim to Louisiana,though the Spanish Explorer Hernando De Soto had discover the Mississippi and crossed it 140 years earlier. Louisiana was a French-Speaking Spanish colony when the nineteenth century began. Twelve years later Loisiana was one of the United States, successfully operating a system of goverment radically different from the autocracy tempered by ineffiency that had gone before.

This book is a classic. The mechanics of the low back and neck are explained in language anyone can understand. You finally learn what the problem is, how you got it, and how to keep from making it worse. More important, the author offers clearly described exercises that really make you feel better. The Williams Exercises revolutionized therapeutic treatment of lower back problems, and they are presented here in their purest and most accessible form. This little book offers big relief!